2017 Volkswagen Tiguan — Known Issues & Recalls

Your power steering system has failed, leaving you without power assistance when turning the wheel. This makes it difficult to maneuver quickly around road hazards, creating a significant safety risk. A power steering warning light appeared before the failure, and two independent service centers have confirmed the problem is with the steering rack and pinion. The fix will likely involve repairing or replacing the power steering pump, hoses, or steering rack assembly.

Your steering rack and pinion failed, causing you to lose power steering while driving. Because the failed component is internal to the steering rack, the entire steering rack and pinion assembly needs to be replaced rather than just fixing the individual part.

Your steering column locks up when you start the car, and a red warning light appears on your dashboard. You lose power steering assistance, making the car impossible to drive safely. The diagnostic code indicates the steering rack needs replacement, which is an expensive repair ($2,000–$3,000 depending on whether you choose a rebuilt or new part).

Your power steering assist has stopped working, making the steering wheel very hard to turn. This problem happens intermittently but is getting worse over time — sometimes restarting the car or letting it sit overnight temporarily restores power steering. A mechanic has identified a defective rack-and-pinion steering gear and related electrical components as the cause. Fixing this will likely require replacing the steering gear assembly and checking the power steering electrical system.

Your power steering system intermittently fails, especially when you first start the vehicle. When this happens, a red warning light appears and the steering becomes locked. Usually, if you turn off the car for a few minutes and restart it, the power steering works again, though you may need to try starting multiple times before it functions properly.

Your 2017 Tiguan is missing airbags that remain on back order from the dealership with no delivery timeline after over a year of waiting. Additionally, your tire pressure sensors aren't functioning and the steering wheel controls (like audio and cruise control buttons) don't work. Your turbo required a $2,500 repair, and the dealership has declined to address any of these issues despite an inspection.

Your engine's timing chain may require repair or replacement. The timing chain synchronizes your engine's internal components, and when it fails or wears out, your engine won't run properly and could suffer serious internal damage if not addressed. Repair typically involves removing the timing chain cover and replacing the worn chain with a new one.

Your engine's timing chain may be failing, which controls the synchronization of your engine's internal components. This could cause rough running, loss of power, or even engine damage if not repaired. Your mechanic will need to inspect and likely replace the timing chain and related components.

Your check engine light stays on even after the dealer serviced the engine and reset it. Your vehicle is also burning through oil faster than normal — an oil consumption test confirmed the problem exists, but the cause hasn't been identified yet. The manufacturer was notified but hasn't offered assistance. This issue started around 30,000 miles.

After your vehicle was struck in a collision, the airbag warning light came on, your seatbelt locked, and white smoke with a strong electrical smell filled the cabin — but the airbags never deployed. Your dashboard now shows an "ERROR: Airbag" message and your seatbelt remains completely locked. Since your vehicle has open safety recalls related to airbag systems, this failure to deploy could be a serious safety concern that might have resulted in injury during a more severe impact.

Your clock spring (the component that connects airbag and steering wheel controls) broke at 67,017 miles, causing your airbag warning light to turn on. When this part failed, your turn signals and wipers stopped working, your steering became very hard to turn, and there's now a large hole where your airbag should be—making your vehicle unsafe to drive. Volkswagen has recalled clock springs on some Tiguans, but yours may not be included. Fixing this will require replacing the clock spring assembly and reinstalling the airbag.

Your dashboard is displaying an airbag error warning light when you start the car. This indicates a potential issue with your airbag system that needs diagnostic attention. A mechanic will need to scan your vehicle's computer to identify what's triggering the warning.

Your steering wheel's clock spring has failed, which is causing an airbag error message on your dashboard and disabling your horn and all the steering wheel control buttons (including those for the dash menu, sound, and phone system). This part is designed to last the life of the vehicle, so this failure is unexpected. The clock spring will need to be replaced to restore your horn, steering wheel controls, and airbag system function.

Your steering wheel makes a crackling sound when you turn it left or right, and your airbag warning light is on. These symptoms suggest a problem with the clock spring, which is a component that allows electrical signals to reach your airbag and steering wheel controls as you turn. The clock spring likely needs to be replaced to restore proper airbag function and eliminate the noise.

Your car lost power while driving and displayed check engine and ECU warning lights. The scan revealed a fuel system issue, and your car went into limp mode with an incorrect low fuel reading. Even after replacing the high pressure fuel pump and confirming the fuel readings are now correct, your car still won't start and remains stuck in limp mode.

Your front passenger airbags did not deploy during a frontal collision with a pole, even though your daughter struck the windshield hard enough to break it and sustain injuries including a concussion. You want to know if the airbags should have deployed and whether the seatbelt functioned properly. A diagnostic inspection of the airbag system and seatbelt mechanisms would be needed to determine if either system failed to operate as designed.

Your steering wheel clock spring wire has failed, which means your steering wheel buttons don't work and, more importantly, your steering wheel airbag is no longer functional. You've been unable to get this part from VW dealers or VW customer support for over 18 months, and the part appears to be on backorder. Getting this part replaced will require ordering a new clock spring assembly from VW and having a dealer install it in your steering wheel.

Your 2017 Tiguan began leaking coolant about six weeks after Volkswagen performed an intake manifold recall repair. Your mechanic found that the water pump was physically damaged during that recall work, likely from a tool strike. A new water pump was installed but failed immediately, suggesting an underlying pressure problem in the cooling system under the intake manifold that hasn't been diagnosed or fixed despite the vehicle being at the dealership for seven weeks. Getting the cooling system properly diagnosed and repaired at the root cause will be necessary to stop the leak and restore safe operation.

Water leaked into your vehicle through the sunroof after a rainstorm, causing the interior to flood. Your airbag warning light came on, which the dealer traced to a failed sunroof drainage system. The dealer did not repair the issue, and Volkswagen opened a case but has not resolved it. Fixing this will likely involve clearing or replacing the sunroof drain tubes and hoses, then inspecting the airbag system for water damage.

Your fuel gauge has stopped working randomly, so you can't see how much gas is in your tank. This is particularly concerning given that you've already needed repairs to the turbo boost, fuel pump, and gas line since purchasing the vehicle. The fuel gauge may need to be diagnosed and repaired, which could involve checking the fuel level sender, the gauge itself, or related electrical connections.